Bag closure



l 1964 c. P. WELLMAN 3,150,813

BAG CLOSURE Filed Sept. 14, 1961 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CHARLES A/ELL/14/V Arrow/5V5 P 1964 c. P. WELLMAN 3,150,813

BAG CLOSURE Filed Sept. 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CHHRLES A/ELLMAN BY jaw/9M ArroRNEVS United States Patent 3,150,813 BAG CLOSURE Charles P. Wellman, 839 Meadowdale Ave., Fcmdale, Mich. Filed Sept. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 138,133 Claims. (Cl. 229-65) The present invention relates to a novel closure arrangement which permits a flexible bag to conveniently support itself within a receptacle and which also permits such bag to be conveniently sealed or closed for temporary storage or disposal purposes.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a flexible plastic bag having a strip of metal foil or foil-like material associated with the neck or open end thereof so that the bag may be more easily handled, supported and closed for storage or disposal.

The use of plastic, e.g. polymerized ethylene etc., bags has increased greatly in recent years due to their many inherent advantages over paper bags. Due to their thinness and softness, plastic bags are generally not easy to open, are diiiicult to support and are not easy to seal or close.

By associating a strip of foil, e.g. aluminum, with the open end of a thin plastic bag, the present invention results in a bag of greatly increased utility. The details as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a perusual of the detailed description which follows.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the subject bag device;

FIGURE 2 is a View along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 FIGURE 3 shows the subject bag disposed within a supporting container;

FIGURE 4 is a prospective view of a sealed bag;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are modified bag constructions;

FIGURE 7 is a view along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a modified form of metal foil strip.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, a plastic bag is indicated generally at 10. Bag 10 is formed of any suitable thermoplastic material such as polymerized ethylene. While the thickness of the plastic sheet from which bag 10 is formed may be varied as desired, it is generally contemplated that such plastic will be very thin, hence inexpensive, so that the bags will have great utility as temporary and disposable containers.

While the utility of the present bags is not intended to be limited thereby, such bags may be useful in the following applications: garbage disposal, baby diapers, hospital sanitary disposal service, dry cleaner garment bags, temporary storing left-over food, camping and picnic food transportation, and retail food packaging.

In the modification of FIGURES 1 and 2, a strip of aluminum foil 12 is retained at the open end or neck of bag 10 by folding the upper end 12 of the bag back on itself. Mild heat is then applied along the edge 16 of the thermoplastic bag to form a foil retaining capsule or pocket 18.

With the bag neck thus reinforced, the bag may be easily opened as shown in FIGURE 2, and any contents deposited therein. Bag 10 may be closed and sealed as seen in FIGURE 4, by bringing the bag edges together and folding the bag neck over on itself several times. Inasmuch as metal foil 12 takes a crease when folded the bag is thereby temporarily sealed.

A practical application of the bag as thus far described is shown in FIGURE 3 where bag 10 provides a liner for container or receptacle 20. In this instance, the bag neck is folded back upon the upper edge of container 20 and retained in position by the creased foil strip 12. When the bag is filled, it may be removed from supporting container 20 and sealed as described, supra.

In the event it is desired to more securely retain the foil strip within the bag capsule, a modified form of bag 22 is shown in FIGURE 5. Save for the provision of openings 24 in foil strip 26, the construction of the bag is the same as the modification of FIGURE 1. While openings 24 may be of various configurations, it is preferred to utilize the chevron shape openings shown. The chevron openings 24 expose portions of the walls of the foil capsule therethrough. Thereafter the application of mild heat to the bag around the foil capsule will cause the exposed wall portions of the thermoplastic bag material to be sealed together and thereby securely retain and sup port foil strip 26 within the capsule.

A further modification is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. In this instance, a bag 30 is provided in which the bag neck is folded down then back up to provide a double fold including walls 32, 33 and 34. A metal foil strip 36 has a plurality of holes 38 spaced along its bottom edge. The lower edge of strip 36 extends within the double fold of the bag neck so that holes 38 are disposed between walls 32 and 33. Thereafter by the application of mild heat to the bag neck walls 32 and 33 are thermoplastically bonded together through strip holes 38 thereby securing strip 36 to bag 30. At the same time, neck wall 33 is bonded to wall 34 to strengthen the neck-foil portion of the bag.

In the modification of FIGURES 6 and 7, the main portion of foil strip 36 is exposed and the bag is sealed by folding the exposed foil strip over on itself. In this case it may be preferred to use a slightly heavier gauge foil since it is exposed and more subject to damage. The exposed foil construction of this modification facilitates sealing since the foil-on-foil folding provides a tighter seal than is the case with intervening plastic walls.

To further enhance the sealing of the bag construction of FIGURES 6 and 7, it has been found to be desirable to emboss or otherwise provide a raised configuration 40 on foil strip 36. This construction results in a non-planar strip which strengthens the foil strip and also provides an interlocking relationship when folding the strip that enhances the bag scaling function.

Another modification of a foil strip is shown in FIG- URE 8. In this case strip 42 is formed with a plurality of juxtaposed raised and depressed portions 44 and 46. In the preferred form, portions 44 and 46 are of pyramidal shapes. Thus as strip 42 is folded, there is a tendency for the pyramidal portions to nest within each other to facilitate sealing.

Improved bag sealing characteristics are also achieved if a crinkled type foil strip is utilized.

While the strips coacting with the bags in the various modifications shown have been referred to as metal foil, it is contemplated that any other suitable material may be utilized which will fulfill the sealing or closing functions of the plastic bags as described. In general, such a strip material should have the characteristics of metal foil such as being substantially non-resilient and creasible or easily foldable.

It is apparent that various structural modifications may be made in the construction of the illustrated bags Within the scope of the invention comprehended by the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. A receptacle comprising: a flexible bag of thermoplastic material open at one end and having a continuous and creasable metal foil strip provided thereat, the open end of said bag being folded to provide a pocket, at least a portion of said strip being disposed in said pocket and including a plurality of spaced openings formed therein, and the fold of said pocket being disposed on opposite sides of said strip openings and having at least a portion 3 thereof thermoplastically bonded together through such openings to secure said strip to the bag.

2, A receptacle as set forth in claim 1 in which said strip is entirely disposed within said pocket, and said strip openings being of a chevron shape configuration.

3. A receptacle comprising a flexible bag of thermoplastic material having an open end, a continuous and creasable metal foil strip of complementary size to said open bag end, a plurality of spaced openings formed along the lower edge of said strip, the open end of said bag being folded back on itself to provide an upwardly opening pocket, said strip openings being disposed within said pocket, the folds of said pocket being thermoplastically bonded together through said strip openings.

4. A receptacle as set forth in claim 3 in which the portion of saidstrip exteriorly of said pocket is formed to provide a non-planar surface.

5. 'A receptacle, comprising: a thermoplastic bag member having an opened end and having said opened end folded upon itself to provide a pocket, a creasable metal foil strip provided continuously about the open end of said bag member and disposed at least in part Within said pocket, means securing folded bag end to itself and retaining said metal foil strip in said pocket, and said metal foil strip being of a width permissive of being folded under and upon itself for closing the open end of said bag.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

5. A RECEPTACLE, COMPRISING: A THERMOPLASTIC BAG MEMBER HAVING AN OPENED END AND HAVING SAID OPENED END FOLDED UPON ITSELF TO PROVIDE A POCKET, A CREASABLE METAL FOIL STRIP PROVIDED CONTINUOUSLY ABOUT THE OPEN END OF SAID BAG MEMBER AND DISPOSED AT LEAST IN PART WITHIN SAID POCKET, MEANS SECURING FOLDED BAG END TO ITSELF AND RETAINING SAID METAL FOIL STRIP IN SAID POCKET, AND SAID METAL FOIL STRIP BEING OF A WIDTH PERMISSIVE OF BEING FOLDED UNDER AND UPON ITSELF FOR CLOSING THE OPEN END OF SAID BAG. 